“for deLawd” by Lucille Clifton: people say they have a hard time understanding how i go on about my business playing my ray charles hollering at the kids— seem like my afro cut off in some old image would show I got a long memory and I come from a line of black and going … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“Tinsel” by Robin Robertson: Tune to the frequency of the wood and you’ll hear the deer, breathing; a muscle, tensing; the sigh of a fieldmouse under an owl. Now listen to yourself—that friction—the push-and-drag, the double pulse, the drum. You can hear it, clearly. You can hear the sound of your body, breaking down. If … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“After Making Love We Hear Footsteps” by Galway Kinnell (1927-2014): For I can snore like a bullhorn or play loud music or sit up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman and Fergus will only sink deeper into his dreamless sleep, which goes by all in one flash, but let there be that heavy breathing or … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“Grass Fingers” by Angelina Weld Grimke: Touch me, touch me, Little cool grass fingers, Elusive, delicate grass fingers. With your shy brushings, Touch my face— My naked arms— My thighs— My feet. Is there nothing that is kind? You need not fear me. Soon I shall be too far beneath you, For you to reach me, … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“To Be Seen” by Jericho Brown: Forgive me for taking the tone of a preacher. You understand, a dying man Must have a point—not that I am Dying exactly. My doctor tells me I’ll live Longer than most since I see him More than most. Of course, he cannot be trusted Nor can any man … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“Hunger for Something” by Chase Twichell: Sometimes I long to be the woodpile, cut-apart trees soon to be smoke, or even the smoke itself, sinewy ghost of ash and air, going wherever I want to, at least for a while. Neither inside nor out, neither lost nor home, no longer a shape or a name, … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“Summer Moods” by John Clare (1793-1864): I love at eventide to walk alone Down narrow lanes o’erhung with dewy thorn Where, from the long grass underneath, the snail Jet black creeps out and sprouts his timid horn. I love to muse o’er meadows newly mown Where withering grass perfumes the sultry air, Where bees search … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“Inversnaid” by Gerard Manley Hopkins: This darksome burn, horseback brown, His rollrock highroad roaring down, In coop and in comb the fleece of his foam Flutes and low to the lake falls home. A windpuff-bonnet of fawn-froth Turns and twindles over the broth Of a pool so pitchblack, fell-frowning, It rounds and rounds Despair to … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“1 Corinthians 13” by Spencer Reece: How long do we wait for love? Long ago, we rowed on a pond. Our oars left the moon broken— our gestures ruining the surface. Our parents wanted us to marry. Beyond the roses where we lay, men who loved men grew wounds. When do we start to forget … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
“The Argument of His Book” by Robert Herrick (1591-1674): I sing of Brooks, of Blossomes, Birds, and Bowers: Of April, May, of June, and July-Flowers. I sing of May-poles, Hock-carts, Wassails, Wakes, Of Bride-grooms, Brides, and of their Bridall-cakes. I write of Youth, of Love, and have Accesse By these, to sing of cleanly-Wantonnesse. I … Continue reading A Poem From The Year
The Dish 